Quick dump hoist

ABSTRACT

A quick dump hoist for rapidly lowering a cable from a helicopter and including a main frame secured to the helicopter and a pivotal frame mounted on the main frame and cantileverally carrying a rotatable drum. Means is provided for rotating the pivotal frame to selectively orient the drum in a horizontal, take-up position, wherein the drum may be rotated to wrap cable thereon and a vertical, feed-out position, wherein the cable will fall freely from the end thereof. A track is provided along one side of the drum and supports a threading means which includes an eye for feeding the cable uniformly on the drum as such means is fed along the track in accordance with rotation of the drum during cable take up.

United States Patent 1 1 3,715,084

Weiss, Jr. 5] Feb. 6, 1973 [54] QUICK DUMP HOIST FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Inventor: J p ss, J 1010 Larch 211,406 2 1924 Great Britain..242/s4.2 B

6, Inglewood, Calif. 90306 22 Filed: March 5 1970 PrimaryExaminerl-iarvey HOll'lSby Appl. No.: 9,005

Related U.S. Application Data AttorneyFulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee andUtecht [57] ABSTRACT A quick dump hoist for rapidly lowering a cablefrom a helicopter and including a main frame secured to the helicopterand a pivotal frame mounted on the main frame and cantileverallycarrying a rotatable drum. Means is provided for rotating the pivotalframe to selectively orient the drum in a horizontal, take-up position,wherein the drum may be rotated to wrap cable thereon and a vertical,feed-out position, wherein the cable will fall freely from the endthereof. A track is provided along one side of the drum and supports athreading means which includes an eye for feeding the cable uniformly onthe drum as such means is fed along the track in accordance with rotation of the drum during cable take up.

8 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 6 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG/l FIG.8

LMW

flrrow/vaz PATENTEDFEB 1m 7 3,715,084

7 SHEET 30F 3 Flaws INVENTOR. JsEPH WE/SS J'Q,

QUICK DUMP HOIST CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of US. application Ser. No.745,532, filed July 17, 1968 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates generally to a hoisting device and more particularlyto a hoisting device which may be utilized on a helicopter to providefor rapid feed-out to lower the cable quickly.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art hoisting devices for use withhelicopters generally provide for relatively slow pay-out of the cableand are therefore unsatisfactory for rapid deployment of rescue devicesto retrieve personnel from a battle area where the personnel to beretrieved are exposed to enemy fire. Many spinning reels have beenproposed which incorporate spools pivotable about their longitudinalaxis but there are no prior art hoisting devices known to applicantwhich include a cable wrapping drum which may be rotated to an uprightposition to dump cable freely off one end thereof.

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hoisting device of present invention ischaracterized by a pivotal frame carried on a main frame andcantileverally mounting a rotatable drum whereby the drum may bepositioned horizontally to wrap cable thereon or rotated to an uprightposition to dump cable off the lower end. I

The hoisting device may also include a threading means for threading thecable uniformly onto the drum and for enabling free feed-out of thecable as it falls off the end of the upright drum.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description when taken in conjunction withthe appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of ahoisting device embodying the present invention; I

FIG. 2 is a top view of the hoisting device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the hoist inits dumped position;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along thelines 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken alongthe lines 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken alongthe lines 9-9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 10-10 ofFIG.2;

FIG. 11 is a partial elevational end view, in enlarged scale, takenalong the lines 11- ll. of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 12-12 of FIG.2;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the hoisting deviceof present invention;

FIG. 14 is an end view of the hoisting device shown in FIG. 1 with thespool dumped on end;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 15-15 ofFIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a horizontal sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 16-16 of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 17-17 ofFIG.16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, thehoisting device of present invention comprises, generally, arectangularshaped main frame 21 having a U-shaped pivotal frame 23mounted thereon, such frame 23 cantileverally carrying a shaft 29 whichrigidly mounts a cable drum 27. A threading device D is mounted from ahorizontal rail 33 extending longitudinally of the drum 27 and guidesthe cable 35 to wrap it uniformly on the drum 27 Thus, the pivotal frame23 may be pivoted to stand the drum 27 on end, as shown in FIGS. 3 and4, to cause the cable 35 to unspiral and fall from the lower end thereofto thereby drop its free end from the helicopter to personnel on theground or to lower personnel to the ground.

The drum 27 is formed on it top end, as viewed in FIG. 3, with acable-retainingflange and its bottom extremity is in the form of aflangless smooth barrel for free release of the cable 35 when such drumis in its upright position.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 9, the pivotal frame 23 includes a pair ofaligned pivot pins 39 projecting outwardly from its opposite ends, suchpins being journaled through bushings 41 in the midsection of the mainframe 21. Referring to FIG. 2, lever arms 43 and 45 are welded to theouter ends of the pivot pins 39,'the lever arm 43 being connected to therod of a dump piston'47 which has its other end secured to the mainframe 21, and the lever arm 45 having its projecting end connected tothe threading device D to pull it along the track 33 as the drum 27 isup-ended.

Still referring to FIG. 2, a pillow block 51 is mounted on the closedend of the pivotal frame 23 and the drum shaft 29 is journaledtherethrough, the shaft 29 projecting beyond such block and mounting adriven pinion 53. The pinion 53 is driven by a drive pinion 57 carriedon the drive shaft 59 of a hydraulic motor 61. Referring to FIG. 10, thedrive pinion 57 is slidable axially on the shaft 59 and is biased intoengaging alignment with the driven pinion 53 by a coil spring 63 coiledabout the shaft 59. A lever 65 is pivotally mounted from the frame 21 bya pivot pin 67 and is rotated on such pivot pin by means of a clutchsolenoid 69 which projects its plunger to rotate the lever 65 and drivethe pinion 57 to the right out of engagement with the driven pinion 53.

When the drum 27 is in its horizontal position, the free end of theshaft 29 is received in an open bottom notch 73 (FIG. 11) formed in theleft hand end of the rectangular frame 21 and a slider 75 slidesthereunder to support such shaft.

Referring to FIG. 2, a dish brake 76 is rigidly secured to the shaft 29at the right hand end of the drum 27 and a clevis shaped fitting 77spans the peripheral edge thereof. The fitting 77 includes a hydraulicactuated plunger connected with the hydraulic source by a hydraulic line78 whereby such plunger may be hydraulicly extended to brake the disc76.

The threading device D includes a master trolley 79 and a slave trolley81, such trolleys including wheels 83 which ride on the screw track 33and wheels 85 which engage a tubular guide rail 89 to hold such trolleyscaptive between the track 33 and such rail.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the slave trolley 81 includes a pair ofupstanding plates 91 and 93 disposed on opposite sides of the wheels 83and 85. A C-channel 95 is supported from the slave trolley 81 by meansof a pivot pin 97 and a vertical rack 99 is received slidably therein.The cable 35 is fed through an eye 100 on the lower end of the rack 99and such rack is arcuately shaped whereby when it is lowered to theposition shown in FIG. 4, such eye will be disposed centrally beneaththe drum 27. The rack 99 is biased to its upper position by a tensionspring 102 connected between the channel 95 and such rack. The rack 99includes a longitudinal slot 101 for receiving the pivot pin 97 and hasgeared teeth 103 formed along one side thereof for meshing with a pinion105 mounted on a common shaft 107 with a pinion 109 carried intermediatethe walls 91 and 93 for meshing with the threads on the track 33. Stillreferring to FIG. 7, a solenoid 111 is mounted on the back side of theupstanding wall 93 and has its plunger 113 projecting therethrough andthrough the wall 91 to engage the longitudinal slot 101 in the rack 99to prevent rotation thereof on the pivot pin 97. Referring to FIGS. 1and 8, a double acting microswitch 114, the purpose of which is setforth below, is mounted on the channel 95 and includes a projectingactuating arm 115 which has its free end held captive between a pair ofpins 117 and 119.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the slave trolley 81 is indexed with thescrew slide 33 by means of a half nut assembly including a lower nutfitting 121 and an upper nut fitting 123. The lower nut fitting 121 isbiased upwardly into engagement with the screw track 33 by a tensionspring 125 and the upper nut portion 123 is biased downwardly by acompression spring 129. Referring to FIG. 6, the upper and lower nutportions 123 and 121 are formed with projecting lugs 131 and 133,respectively, which are tapered on one end for engagement by a pointedend of a slider 135 which is selectively forced therebetween to spreadthe nut portions to disengage them from the screw track 33. Referring toFIG. 2, the track screw 33 is driven by a reversible electric motor 136and mounts a drive pulley 138 on the drum shaft 29 by an endless belt139.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, the trolleys 79 and 81 are positioned bymeans of a connecting link 141 which connects to the free end of thelever arm 45, the opposite end of such connecting link 141 beingconnected with the slider 135 by means of a connecting pin 145 whichprojects through a slot 147 in the body of the master trolley 79.

In operation the dump hoist of present invention may be controlled by acontrol apparatus including a joy stick for accomplishing all thefunctions about to be described. When the cable 35 is to be deployed,the joy stick would be moved to the deployment position thereby causingthe slider (FIG. 11) to retract and extending the dump cylinder 47 torotate the drum 27 to its upright position shown in FIG. 4. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, such dumping of the drum 27 rotates the lever 45 throughto the position shown in FIG. 3 thereby pulling the master trolley 79 tothe right and interjecting the slider 135 (FIG. 6) between the lugs 131and 133 to spread the half nuts 121 and 123 (FIG. 7) thereby disengagingthe slave trolley 81 from the slide screw 33. This is accomplished inthe first portion of rotation of the lever arm 45 and during theremainder of the rotation, the master trolley 79 abuts against the slavetrolley 81 meshing the pinion with the teeth 103 on the rack 99 andpulling such rack downwardly against the bias of the spring 102.Movement of the threading device D from the position shown in FIG. 1 tothe position shown in FIG. 3 drives the rack 99 downwardly from theposition shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 4 therebyaligning the eye 100 centrally under the drum 27 for convenientdeployment of the cable 35. A relatively heavy item, such as a weightedbook, will be carried on the end of the cable 35 thereby causing thecable to be pulled rapidly from the lower end of the drum 27 and to dropat essentially the speed dictated by gravity.

When sufficient cable has been deployed, the aforementioned controllever (not shown) will be positioned to retract the control piston 47and return the drum 27 to its horizontal position shown in FIGS. 1 and2. Such .horizontal positioning of the drum will cause the arm 45 topush the master trolley to the left thereby disengaging the slider fromthe lugs 131 and 133 to enable the nut fittings 121 and 123 to lampagainst the track screw 33. At this time the solenoid 111 (FIG. 7) isenergized to retract its plunger 113 to enable the rack 99 to pivotfreely on its pivot pin 97 to align the eye 100 directly below the lastwrap of cable 35 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. The clutch solenoid61 is also actuated to slide the drive pinion 57 out of engagement withthe driven pinion 53 to disengage the track screw 33 from the drum 27whereby such screw may be rotated by its motor 136 without rotation ofthe drum. Pivoting of the rack 99 to the inclined position shown inbroken lines in FIG. 1 closes the associated contacts in the switch 114to rotate the track motor 136 to pull the slave trolley 81 to the rightthereby aligning itself with the last wrap of cable and enabling therack 99 to again assume its vertical orientation. When such verticalorientation is assumed the switch 114 will open the circuit to the motor136 and the solenoid 111 will be de-energized to project the plunger 113into the rack slot 101 to maintain the rack 99 vertical. The clutchsolenoid 59 is then de-energized to permit the coil spring 63 to pushthe drive pinion 57 into driving engagement with the driven pinion 53whereby upon rotation of the track screw 33 the drum will be driven bythe belt 139 to wrap the cable thereon and the slave trolley 81 is fedleftward along the track screw 33 to thread the cable 35 uniformly onthe drum 27.

When the hoist of present invention is utilized to deploy personnel froma helicopter, the drum 27 may be left in its horizontal position and thesolenoid 61 actuated to disengage the pinions 53 and 57 to enable eachdrum to free-wheel and rapidly pay out the cable while being monitoredby the brake.

The hoisting device shown in FIG. 13 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1except that wound around the inside of the drum 153 is anelectromagnetic coil, generally designated 151, that attracts the cable35 to restrict feeding thereof off the lower end of such drum. Amounting shaft 157 extends through the drum 153 and mounts a pair ofelectrically conductive rings 159 and 161 thereon. Mounted adjacent therings 159 and 161 is a brush housing 163 which includes a pair of brushelements that engage the respective rings 159 and 161.

A pair of electrical leads 167 and 169 lead from the helicopterelectrical system to a switch 171 mounted on the frame 21. The switch171 is responsive to the rotary position of the pivotable frame 23 andis closed when such frame is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 14. Apair of electrical leads 175 and 179 lead from the switch 171 to thebrush housing 163.

Referring to FIG. 14, an electrical lead 181 leads from the brush 159and down the hollow shaft 157 and extends through the wall of the shaft157 and connects the top end of the electromagnetic coil 151 which linesthe inner wall of the drum 153 The opposite end of the coil 151 isconnected with the second ring 161 by means of an electrical lead 185.

Thus, when the drum 153 is pivoted to its upright dumping position shownin FIG. 14, the switch 171 will be closed to initiate electrical currentin the electromagnetic coil 151 and magnetize the drum therebyattracting the electromagnetic cable 35 to the drum and causing suchcable to feed off the lower end of such drum one coil at a time in anorderly fashion.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the quick dump hoist ofpresent invention provides a convenient and rapid means for deployingcable and a positive recovery means whereby items being lowered orraised from the helicopter need spend only short periods of time insuspension.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A quick dump hoist for hoisting from a predetermined direction andcomprising:

a main frame;

a pivotal frame;

mounting means pivotally mounting said pivotal frame from said mainframe for pivoting thereof between a take-up position and a feedposition;

a drum carried on said pivotal frame for being rotated between a windingposition with its axis extending transverse to said predetermineddirection and a dump position with its axis projecting in saidpredetermined direction as said pivotal frame is pivoted between saidtake-up and feed position;

trip means engaging said pivotal frame to retain said pivotal frame fromrotation between said pivotal frame for rotation between said take-upand feed positions;

threading means including track means extending axially of said drum, acarriage movable along said track means, holding means carried by saidcarriage for receipt of said cable to guide said cable onto said drum,and control means connected between said drum and said carriage fordrawing said carriage along said track means at a rate corresponding tothe speed at which said drum is rotated;

release means for automatically releasing said holding means to freesaid cable when said drum is pivoted to said dump position; and

drive means for rotating said drum whereby said drive means may beactuated with said drum in its winding position to take up said cableand said trip means and release means may then be actuated to pivot saiddrum to its dump position and concurrently release said holding means tofree said cable for feeding freely from the end of said drum.

-2. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said holding means includes an eye forming a closed loop;

said release means includes a rack means carrying said eyes and coupledwith said track means and operative in response to rotation of said drumfrom said winding position to said dump position to move said eye to aposition at the end of said drum for free feeding of said cabletlherethrough,

3. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein said holding meansincludes an eye and said threading means includes a rack supporting saideye on its lower end and carried on said carriage, said rack beingmovable on said carriage between a feedout position with'said eyedisposed centrally under the bottom end of the dumped drum and athreading position with said eye disposed at one side of said drum.

4. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

means for disengaging said carriage from said track means to enable theweight of the cable suspended from said drum to, when said drum is inits winding position, pull said eye into alignment with the last wrap ofcable on said drum.

5. A- quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 3 that in cludes:

a lever arm on said pivotal frame and connected with said carriage topull said carriage along said track to said feed-out position when saidhoist is dumped.

6. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 3 wherein said rack includesgear teeth, said threading means includes a lever arm connecting saidpivotal frame with said carriage to pull said carriage along said trackwhen said drum is rotated to its dump position, a gear carried on saidcarriage and driven by said track as said carriage moves relativethereto, said gear meshing with said track to feed said rack downwardlyas said hoist is dumped to dispose said eye in its feed-out position.

7. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 3 wherein said rack issupported pivotally from said carriage, and is formed with alongitudinal guideway, said threading means includes a guide pinnormally projecting into said guideway and means for selectivelyretracting said guide pin to free said rack to pivot, register meansresponsive to the amount of pivoting of said rack for moving saidcarriage along said track to align said guideway with said pin wherebywhen said drum is rotated from its dump position to its winding positionand said pin retracted from said guideway said rack will be rotated bythe weight of the suspended cable to 8. A quick dump hoist as set forthin claim 1 wherein: align Said y with the p of Cable Said said drumincludes attraction means for attracting drum to actuate said registermeans and move said carriage along said track into alignment with saideye, said pin extended and said drive means actuated to rotate said drumand drive said threading means.

said cable thereto to restrict said cable from uncontrolled dumping offsaid one end when said drum is rotated to said dump position.

1. A quick dump hoist for hoisting from a predetermined direction andcomprising: a main frame; a pivotal frame; mounting means pivotallymounting said pivotal frame from said main frame for pivoting thereofbetween a take-up position and a feed position; a drum carried on saidpivotal frame for being rotated between a winding position with its axisextending transverse to said predetermined direction and a dump positionwith its axis projecting in said predetermined direction as said pivotalframe is pivoted between said take-up and feed position; trip meansengaging said pivotal frame to retain said pivotal frame from rotationbetween said pivotal frame for rotation between said take-up and feedpositions; threading means including track means extending axially ofsaid drum, a carriage movable along said track means, holding meanscarried by said carriage for receipt of said cable to guide said cableonto said drum, and control means connected between said drum and saidcarriage for drawing said carriage along said track means at a ratecorresponding to the speed at which said drum is rotated; release meansfor automatically releasing said holding means to free said cable whensaid drum is pivoted to said dump position; and drive means for rotatingsaid drum whereby said drive means may be actuated with said drum in itswinding position to take up said cable and said trip means and releasemeans may then be actuated to pivot said drum to its dump position andconcurrently release said holding means to free said cable for feedingfreely from the end of said drum.
 1. A quick dump hoist for hoistingfrom a predetermined direction and comprising: a main frame; a pivotalframe; mounting means pivotally mounting said pivotal frame from saidmain frame for pivoting thereof between a take-up position and a feedposition; a drum carried on said pivotal frame for being rotated betweena winding position with its axis extending transverse to saidpredetermined direction and a dump position with its axis projecting insaid predetermined direction as said pivotal frame is pivoted betweensaid take-up and feed position; trip means engaging said pivotal frameto retain said pivotal frame from rotation between said pivotal framefor rotation between said take-up and feed positions; threading meansincluding track means extending axially of said drum, a carriage movablealong said track means, holding means carried by said carriage forreceipt of said cable to guide said cable onto said drum, and controlmeans connected between said drum and said carriage for drawing saidcarriage along said track means at a rate corresponding to the speed atwhich said drum is rotated; release means for automatically releasingsaid holding means to free said cable when said drum is pivoted to saiddump position; and drive means for rotating said drum whereby said drivemeans may be actuated with said drum in its winding position to take upsaid cable and said trip means and release means may then be actuated topivot said drum to its dump position and concurrently release saidholding means to free said cable for feeding freely from the end of saiddrum.
 2. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein: saidholding means includes an eye forming a closed loop; said release meansincludes a rack means carrying said eyes and coupled with said trackmeans and operative in response to rotation of said drum from saidwinding position to said dump position to move said eye to a position atthe end of said drum for free feeding of said cable therethrough.
 3. Aquick dump hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein said holding meansincludes an eye and said threading means includes a rack supporting saideye on its lower end and carried on said carriage, said rack beingmovable on said carriage between a feedout position with said eyedisposed centrally under the bottom end of the dumped drum and athreading position with said eye disposed at one side of said drum.
 4. Aquick dump hoist as set forth in claim 1 that includes: means fordisengaging said carriage from said track means to enable the weight ofthe cable suspended from said drum to, when said drum is in its windingposition, pull said eye into alignment with the last wrap of cable onsaid drum.
 5. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 3 that includes:a lever arm on said pivotal frame and connected with said carriage topull said carriage along said track to said feed-out position when saidhoist is dumped.
 6. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 3 whereinsaid rack includes gear teeth, said threading means includes a lever armconnecting said pivotal frame with said carriage to pull said carriagealong said track when said drum is rotated to its dump position, a gearcarried on said carriage and driven by said track as said carriage movesrelative thereto, said gear meshing with said track to feed said rackdownwardly as said hoist is dumped to dispose said eye in its feed-outposition.
 7. A quick dump hoist as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidrack is supported pivotally from said carriage, and is formeD with alongitudinal guideway, said threading means includes a guide pinnormally projecting into said guideway and means for selectivelyretracting said guide pin to free said rack to pivot, register meansresponsive to the amount of pivoting of said rack for moving saidcarriage along said track to align said guideway with said pin wherebywhen said drum is rotated from its dump position to its winding positionand said pin retracted from said guideway said rack will be rotated bythe weight of the suspended cable to align said eye with the last wrapof cable on said drum to actuate said register means and move saidcarriage along said track into alignment with said eye, said pinextended and said drive means actuated to rotate said drum and drivesaid threading means.